As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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we arrived at the hotel at 4:30. i went to my room, then i decided to take a walk outside the hotel, i didn't go very far, as i didn't feel safe at all in this area. so i came back to the hotel. went back to my room at 5:15, then went back down to the lobby at 5:30, as we were going to the optional excursion Montmartre and farewell dinner. the bus left at 5:50 heading to Montmartre. there we walked to the funiculaire. we took the funiculaire up to Montmartre at 6:20. there we looked around at shops, i bought 3 Paris scarves to bring back as souvenirs to my daughters. we took the funiculaire back down and walked to the bus.
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the last picture with our tour guide had the view from Montmartre in the background. the bus left at 7:35. we arrived in the latin quarter. we went to the Patheon, Voltaire, Emile Zola are buried there, church of Ste Genevieve, we stopped at 8:05 and went to visit inside Ste Genevieve Church then we walked to the restaurant L'escarmouche in Latin Quarter for dinner at 8:30. we had lots of fun, most of the dinners included one drink but this one we could drink as much as we want, most of the people drank just enough to be happy, except one young phillipino guy who got drunk and in the elevator in the hotel he threw up and it went all over my pants i wasn't very happy, it was late and i was tired and i had to wash my pants. when you're in a group like that you have to learn to have self control out of respect for the group. actually we should always have self control when we drink, but i would say specially when your're in a group. Anyway i had for dinner: aperetif (apetizer alcoholic drink), frog legs with salad, shrimps, rice and peppers, camembert, ementhal, goat cheese, 2 slices french bread, 3 glasses white wine, apple tart, expresso. we left the restaurant at 10:30 and took the bus back to the hotel. we arrived at the hotel at 11. went to my room and washed my pants. i had a message in my room from my shuttle to DLP that they would pick me up at 9am tomorrow instead of 8am. I wasn't happy about that but not much i could do. I went to bed at 11:30
at the farewell dinner
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I got up at 6 in order to say goodby to the group, as last night we said that we would meet for breakfast at 6:30 for a farewell. Some people from the group were taking the 7 o'clock bus to the airport, some were leaving with the tour guide at 8 o'clock to Calais to take them back to London where they would fly out of London, some like me were extending their vacation. A couple was renting a car to travel through Europe, a family was also staying longer to visit Europe. so I showered and went down for breakfast at 6:30 (OJ, 2 capuccinos, 1 cafe au lait, bowl of yogurt, granola, can pears, 2 chocolate croissants, 1 cheese). say goodby to everyone then come back to my room at 7:50. it was 10 degree celsius this morning so a bit cold. i came downstairs at 8:35 and waited for my private shuttle, as they didn't have public shuttle from one hotel to another and my suitcase was too heavy to take the metro. I wasn't happy that they were coming at 9 instead of 8 as i wanted to get to DLP asap. the shuttle came at 9:10, the driver was really nice, we talked a lot in French of course (the whole time i was in Paris i spoke French)
I arrived at Thomas Cook Explorer hotel at 10:10 (in Marne la Vallee, that's where DLP is), it's a very nice hotel just like the disney hotel, all decorated with the disney store that you can even return the merchandise you bought at disney there. i registered, then brought my stuff to my room then waited for the Disney shuttle at 10:35. it comes every 20 mins from 6am to midnight and it takes 5 mins to get to the park so pretty good. it was pretty cold. the shuttle arrived at 10:40 (stand up room only) once at DLP, i waited in line to exchange my voucher for tickets at 10:55, there was a huge line up, it was incredible, i got in the park and made my ressies, i was done at 11:40. i checked the shops.
at 12 i went on Pirates (1/2 hour wait), then at 12:40 Adventure Isle, a 12:55 Indiana Jones 45 mins wait, (Upside down roller coaster), 1:10 cabane des Robinsons. i went to the Blue Lagoon restaurant at 1:25 even though my ressis was at 2. i was really hungry. i got seated at 1:35 so almost right away. i chose menu tresors des mers at 32.60 euros including appetizer, meal and dessert (drink not included) ( i had crab mousse with tomato, ostrich steak, potato, vegetables, roll, chocolate lava cake with pineapple and passion fruit). i didn't think it was worth the price. the meals at WDW are way much better. i felt uncomfortable too eating alone, i brought a book which i read, but i find the odd person staring (specially men) and i didn't like it). i left the restaurant at 2:55, so a long time, at 3 i went on Blanche Neige (15 mins wait), 320 Small World, 3:45 (Nautilus (exhibit) at 3:50 Buzz (40 mins wait) it was actually a lot longer, i was not liking DLP, the queues were extremely long and people extremely pushy. did they think that they would get in faster by pushing you. They were speaking italian. I actually went on the ride at 5:10, so a wait of 1 hour 20 mins. at WDW Buzz is often a walk on when i go in May and September. my score 10,400. at 5:55 Passage d'Aladdin (exhibit). at 6 Phantom Manor, at 6:15 Big Thunder (wait 40 mins.), got on the ride at 6:55, so it was 40 mins. at 7:05 watch the rest of Disney showtime spectacular show by the castle until 7:20, then look at shops. the park was opened every day from 10 am until 7pm so not very long and a lot of the rides don't start until 11 or 11:30 and quit at 6.
I didn't take many pictures because unlike WDW, there's no cast member anywhere, no photographers, no cleaners (only when the park first opens and that's it). the only cast members are at the rides or restaurants. so when i left the park, a couple was taking each other's picture, so i offered to take their picture and then they took mine
I then went to Disney village and went to Rainforest cafe for dinner at 8:30. i took the Cha cha menu (including meal and dessert for 19.20 euros) i had salmon caesar salad and brownie sundae. after i thought i shouldn't have had the ice cream as i was so cold when i got out of the restaurant at 9:30. i checked out the Disney store and bought a purple hat and pink Mickey socks. then at checked out the disneyland hotel, then i ran for the bus, i thought it was there but it wasn't and i fell and i was bleeding in both my hands and chin, this nice italian lady stopped to see if i was okay and gave me a wipe as i was bleeding pretty bad from my chin. i was feeling really bad in pain and when i hurt my chin, i also hurt my head from the fall. i took the bus at 10:45 to the hotel. i went to the front desk to ask for disinfectant and the lady was so very nice, she gave me disinfectant and she bandaged my hands and chin. i went to my room and went to bed at 11:40. i was so tired.
i got up at 7:2, showered, my chin looked pretty bad (by the way i still have a big bump and it's now been 2 weeks). i had bandages on my hands and chin all night. at 7:45 i went for breakfast (included in the hotel) (i had fruits, OJ, 3 coffees, 2 containers of yogurt, 2 chocolate croissants, 2 prunes, bite eggs (no good), 2 cheese cubes). i went back to my room and then took the bus to DLP at 8:40.
I went to disney village and bought a top (i could have it taken to my hotel or pick it up at the store at the end of the day, i chose the latter). at 10 i went to the disney studios. went to ToT first , then at 10:40 Rock & Roller coaster, at 10:55 Armaggedon special effects, at 11:45 Moteurs Actions show (45 mins)
then at 12:30 i went to have lunch at Restaurant des Stars (buffet for 21.60 euros including coffee) i had cucumbers, coleslaw, 1/2 slie bread with camembert, cheese, salmon, potato, rice, vegetables, grattin au zucchini, bite of fish, fruit salad with chocolate sauce, 2 berry tarts, 2 bites pacane tart and 2 cappucinos and 1 cafe viennois.
at 1:30 i went on the studio tram tour, at 2:15 Stars and cars parade, at 2:25 tapis volants (flying carpets), at 3 quatre roue rallye. i found that there were only a few French, a few English, a few German, some Spanish but the majority of the park was Italian, i don't know if it was holiday for them this week. i really didn't like standing in queue. it is not like WDW at all where people know line up manners. here people are pushy even though there's people right in front of you. i was really not enjoying myself. at 3:35 i went to Cinemagique show (the show was at 3:45, a 30 mins show, it was very good, it had clips of a whole bunch of movies). i got out at 4:15 and it was raining. i went to Stitch live, it was starting at 4:30 in French. AT 4:50 i lined up for Animagique show (the show was at 5), at 5:25 i went to Disney imagination, at 6 i went to Crush's coaster. i got out at 6:50
I went to Disney village and made ressies for Steakhouse for 8:15, then picked up my purchase bag from this morning at Disney fashions and i bought 3 pairs of socks (pink minnie, thick pink minnie and long black disney, yesterday i had bought a black mickey). at 8:05 i went to Steakhouse for dinner. i had scallops with sauce and tomato and risotto and then apple pastry with ice cream. i thought it wasn't worth the price, it wasn't all that great for the price, the same like Blue Lagoon. i much prefer the restaurants at WDW. i got out at 9:30. it was pouring so i decided to go back to the hotel. i waited for the bus at 9:40 and the bus arrived at 9:45. i went to my room, fix my things and watched a bit of TV. i went to bed at 11
i got up at 7:05, showered then went for breakfast at 7:30 (had OJ, 3 coffees, watermelon and pineapple, 2 prunes, 2 containers of yogurt, one container of caramel flan, 2 chocolate croissants. i went back to my room at 8:10, then left my room at 8:30. it was still cloudy this morning and still freezing even though i had 3 sweaters on. i really should have brought a jacket on this trip because i had been freezing quite a bit on this trip from having thin sweaters. i went to the front desk and ordered take out breakfast for 6am Saturday as the restaurant opens only at 7 and i have to leave earlier than that to take the bus to the airport.
Wait for the disney bus at 8:45. it arrived at 9. go through security then line up at the entrance at 9:20. they let us in on main street at 9:30. make ressies for Walts for 1pm, then look at shops then wait at the ropes. at 10, the ropes drop,got a fast pass for Buzz, then went on Astro Orbitror, it had already a big line up, at 10:50 went on Star Tours, they had to stop the ride because this spanish guy wouldn't shut his camera even after several warnings in both French and English. when the cast member came in, they (he and his extended family) kept saying that they didn't speak French or English! everybody can understand "no camera". apparently they couldn't. Fortunately, they re-started the ride, then at 11:20 i went on Buzz using my fast pass, my score was 25,700. at 11:45 i went on Pinocchio, i then got a fast pass for Peter Pan, then at 12:10 i went to Alice Curious labyrinth (walk through maze), at 12:15 tea cups, at 12:35 the castle and taniere du dragon.
at 12:50 i went to Walts on main street for lunch, i took the formule set menu which included the meal and cafe gourmand. i had duck, risotto, vegetables, sauce, bun, cafe gourmand (expresso, 6 small treats: strawberry mousse, macaron, coconut thingy, chocolate truffle, chocolate square, candy). there was another single in the restaurant a chinese guy, so that made me feel a bit more comfortable and i had a table by the window so i could look out as well as read. i left the restaurant at 2:10
i checked shops then walked around Fantasyland waiting for my fastpass time. the park was so crowded that day and the sun came out so it was a lot warmer. at 3, i went on Peter Pan using my fast pass. at 3:05 i went to line up for the railroad at fantasyland, there was a huge line up for this.. i waited until 3:45 before being able to get on one. it was crazy there. at WDW you never wait for this. i went a full circle and it took 1/2 hour to get back to fantasyland, so at 4:15. this morning autopia was 75 mins wait when it opened at 11:30 (people start lining up before it opens) so i had asked them then when would be the best time to come back, they said during the parade at 4:30, so i went to Autopia at 4:35, i waited a long time in queue, there was this italian family that just cut the line and went in front of me and in front of the people in front of me and they didn't know anybody ahead. they were just cutting ahead. i never saw anything like that at WDW. i was getting really frustrated again waiting in line with the ill mannered people pushing and passing people in queues, the kids jumping all over the place. it was so unlike WDW where people know queue manners. by the time i got in the car, it was 5:20, so a wait of 45 mins.
At 5:30, i went to Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor for ice cream, i ordered 3 scoops - strawberry cheesecake, fairly nuts (caramel almond) and chocolate macademia, they use Ben & Gerry ice cream. the flavors are better than WDW but it is not as clean, the same people handle money and ice cream and they don't wear gloves. at WDW, different people handle money and ice cream and the people handling ice cream wear gloves. then at 6, i went on the riverboat, then i looked at shops then at 6:50 i sat in front of the central plaza for the 7pm show of Disney showtime spectacular, the show ended at 7:20.
i walked to Hotel New York and went at the Parkside diner there for dinner at 7:45 (buffet): i had coleslaw, shrimp salad, vegetable salad, salmon, vegetables, rice, zucchini au grattin, 3 desserts. i ate too much, that's the problem with buffets and i shouldn't have had the ice cream this afternoon, big mistake. i got out at 8:45 and walked around the hotels. the sidewalk area was beautiful. i checked out the Sequoia Lodge, the Newport Bay Club, then i was getting really tired, my legs and feet sore from all the walking and standing for the last 3 days, but i walked some more. i felt i had to walk off my supper. i checked out hotel Cheyenne and hotel Santa Fe. Hotel Cheyenne is interesting, it looks like an old western town from a western movie. at 9:50 i walked back to Disney village. it was very nice to walk these pathways, lots of trees, clean air. Back in Disney village at 10, i looked at shops, but i was too tired, i headed to the bus stop at 10:15. as i got there at 10:20, the bus arrived and for once i didn't have to to stand up. my feet were killing me from all the walking. i went to the front desk to ask for a wake up call then went to my room. i was so tired i went to bed at 10:45
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